OBITUARY
James Maynard Scoggin
March 2, 1930 – July 7, 2022

Today we celebrate and remember the circle of life of beloved husband, father,
and grandfather, Jim Scoggin who surprised his mother by entering the world in
San Jose, California, in March during a train trip to see the grandparents-to-be in
Washington that originated in Petoskey, Michigan where Jim’s mom (Elsie) and
Jim’s dad (Joseph) resided at the time of Jim’s birth. After living a full life filled
with wonderful adventures, travel, and success as the Manager of JCPenney
stores in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Kentucky, Jim completed his
life’s journey by passing away peacefully the morning of July 7th, 2022, at his
retirement home of 32 years in Avila Beach, California where he loved to say, at
the beginning of each day, “… not a cloud in the sky” or “… another beautiful day
in paradise.”
While many friends and family members may remember Jim’s business acumen,
mentoring abilities, and athletic skills in snow skiing, sailing, tennis, football, and
golf, what we cherished most about Jim was his gift of knowing how to make us
feel loved and appreciated in his presence, his ability to help us believe in
ourselves and, most of all, believe that everything would be all right. His winning
smile, sense of humor, and positive attitude never failed to light up a room and
his eagerness to ask with genuine sincerity, “How can I help?” or “How can we fix
this?” — and mean it -- and make good on his promise — no matter how tough
the times or how challenging the circumstances — garnered Jim a multitude of
loyal lifelong friends over his 92 years.
It was also well known that Jim had a fierce loyalty to the University of Michigan -
- especially for the University of Michigan football team -- as well as an ongoing
optimistic belief that the University of Michigan football team would soon return to
Pasadena for another victorious Rose Bowl win for his precious Victors. Proof of
Jim’s lifelong loyalty to the University of Michigan, where he received his BA
degree in business in 1952, begins as you enter his residence where a University
of Michigan football helmet with the words M-Go Blue are prominently displayed
under a spotlight followed by a variety of framed photos of University of Michigan
football memorabilia throughout his home.
A favorite closing to any phone, email, or text conversation with Jim during
football season would always end with “Go Blue!” However, this did not preclude
in any way Jim’s support for California teams or even for Wisconsin and Illinois
teams — as long as they were not playing against his University of Michigan
team. Jim either wore his University of Michigan hat or Detroit Tiger hat when out
and about around the county of San Luis Obispo California and his hats were the
hook and icebreaker that opened up many interesting conversations with
strangers that soon became acquaintances and later new friends.
Jim was a faithful loving husband for 53 years to his first wife who predeceased
him, Janet Matthew Scoggin, and who was also mother to his 3 children and
grandmother to his 4 grandchildren. Jim was a patient, kind, understanding, and
generous father to his children and grandchildren who survive him: son, David
Scoggin (Hilary Soller); daughter Sallie Scoggin; daughter Jennifer Scoggin
(Marc Walley); granddaughter Katy Scoggin (Tyler Karling); grandsons Nathan
and Edan Brichta; and grandson Cole Scoggin. Jim was always ready and proud
to share photos and stories about his children and grandchildren’s lives,
achievements, and successes. Jim is also survived by his 2nd wife of 8 years
and friend of the family for 30 years, Sharon Kimball; his stepson Derek (Anita),
his stepdaughter Kelly (Zack); step granddaughters Paloma and Sabrina; and
step grandsons Sam and Myles.
When asked in his twilight years if he had any advice for family, friends, and
others on how to live a more joyful life or how to achieve a better and healthier
longevity, Jim would pull out a yellowed clipping from a newspaper article written
by an Ohio Mason entitled, “Love’s the Answer,” and read it aloud: “There is no
difficulty that enough love will not conquer; no door that enough love will not
open; no disease that enough love will not heal; no sin that enough love will not
redeem; no guilt that enough love will not throw down. It makes no difference
how deeply seated may be the trouble; how hopeless the outlook; how muddled
the tangle; how great the mistake. A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it
all.” Go Blue, Jim!!
No public memorial service is planned. A private family interment will occur in
Los Osos, California and Petoskey, Michigan.
JCPenney friends and alumni may donate to the JCPenney H.C.S.C. Foundation
at https://hcscfoundation.com/?page_id=390. In rememberance of Jim’s love for
animals, family and friends who live in California may donate to Pacific Wildlife in
Morro Bay https://www.pacificwildlifecare.org/make-a-donation/ or their local
animal rescue rehabilitation organization. For family and friends who live in
Michigan donations may be made to the Little Traverse Historical Museum in
Petoskey, Michigan where Jim’s mom’s robe and crown are on display as she
was crowned the first Snow Queen in Petoskey Michigan
https://www.petoskeymuseum.org/donations.html. (Jim loved to tell the story
about his mom’s double date with Ernest Hemingway, who also has a special
display at this museum, as Hemingway’s family had and still has an estate on
Walloon Lake known as Windemere.) For loyal alumni and friends of the
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jim would love you to make a
donation in his name for any of the funds listed on the University of Michigan
Giving web site at https://leadersandbest.umich.edu/find/#!/ Go Blue, Jim
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James Maynard Scoggin